London camping out overnight for royal event. Tips and advice please

[fortifiedwithtea]

King’s Coronation. I am 56 , live in Essex and have never gone to the Capital for any significant event.

I am asking mumsnetters who have gone up to wave at a Royal Wedding or Jubilee what is your advice?

I am aware I would see more on the tv but high lights will be on repeat for days. Is the effort of being in the crowd worth it? How do you survive sleeping on the pavement?

Thinking of driving up, park at DH office and take backpacks. Pop up tent, sleeping bags. There will be 3 of us, the others are DH and one adult daughter. Then staying a second night in a hotel and return home on Sunday.

Thoughts?

Cool beans, we can both read

I see all the charmers are out in force today.

@NowDoYouBelieveMe oh look a parade let me rain on it...

Don't like the monarchy fine. Don't want to camp out fine.

But get over yourself telling others what to do.

It's a disgusting parade of undeserved power and wealth hoarding.

I actually hope it does rain on it!

I camped in the Mall for Andrew and Fergie's wedding

You need at least two of you, one to mind your pitch whilst the other goes to the loo.

Don't bother trying to sleep, not worth it. One of those tinfoil blankets, cut a hole in it and wear it as a poncho. Hat, cold at night even in summer.

Don't take anything you can't put in a modest backpack. After the procession goes past on the way back be prepared to be able to grab your shit and get swept along.

Just wondered why the need for a formal public Coronation? Is it a constitutional imperative or just following tradition i.e. the vesting of the "power" in the monarch by God or something like that.

It seems so unnecessary in this day and age to be lauding a mere mortal who happened to be born.

Honestly if they had any brains or dignity they would have it privately, but filmed for the adoring public and posterity, and as low key as possible. Is there any need for all the ermine and crowns and horses and carriages and all that stuff?

Unless of course it is the law or something. Charles I think would be far more respected if he made it as low key as possible. But tourists, but voyeurs, but camping stools and jolly fun. Ok so, now we know why.

I also went to the flotilla. That was just plain misery.

I do really enjoy a royal event. No I don't know them, no I know they don't care about me, yes I understand there is a cost of living crisis and I don't have a cap to doff of a forelock to tug.

I can’t wait for the bank holiday

I am having a party at home for it - always do for Royal weddings and jubilees etc.

Sorry op not much help but l think l will get a better view from the TV that being there but l can see why you are considering going!

God the miserable bastards are out. How about fuck off and get a life instead of being so mean. It's actually not my cup of tea either but I really hope everyone going has a great time

Ok got hotel room booked. Weirdly where we are staying if we selected Saturday only there was no availability but by choosing Friday and Saturday they had space. This gives us options, I suspect we will get a few hours sleep at the hotel and get up at sparrows fart.

Hearing waterproof footwear and light rain mac is a must as is something to sit on.

looking at past weather that weekend was dry in 2022 so fingers crossed. I believe weather is roughly predictable. In 24 years my August born child has had rain on her birthday 23 times whereas my October child rarely has rain and then only a light shower.

OP I went for the Jubilee and as fun as the atmosphere was (for a while) the crush of the crowds was INSANE. Not only that but the police orchestrate a one-way walking system and you get trapped, jammed-in, being shoved from all sides. Even breathing was challenging at times it was that rammed. Please be aware of this. If you're really determined I'd recommend camping against the barriers from a week before.

I see plenty of people camping out in London every day on my way to and from work. People use everything from a bit of cardboard and newspaper to tents. They don't tend to have fold up chairs or flasks though.

Maybe make friends with the local homeless for some top tips on how to survive, where to use the toilet and someone to share your sausage rolls with.

@StarInTheHeavens thank you for your wise words. Yes the fear of crushing could be enough to put us off. Daughter has learning disabilities (not autism) and wouldn’t cope well under stress.

we can cancel our hotel with 24 hours notice without penalty. Will keep a looking for when the route is published and work out an exit plan.

@Flowersinthebasement the history of the coronation ceremony is very long.

In a nutshell, pre Norman conquest it was the sign that the person crowned was the undisputed king. When there has been more than one claimant it was a race to get to Westminster to be crowned and therefore have the throne.

When lines of succession were made more formal the ceremony was a public transfer of power. It's also a religious service which marks the transition to monarch. It's considered irreversible.

It's a bit like a mix between a baptism and a wedding

Find out when the earliest train runs from your local station on the day. Take that, have visited your desired spot or spots beforehand.

OP, there were a few 'live' threads by people in The Queue last September - not quite the same thing but you might enjoy reading them.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4633764-anyone-queuing-to-see-the-coffin-in-london-atm

www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4633495-nobody-does-a-queue-better-than-the-british-queue-for-coffin-is-five-miles-long

Take eggs.

Do it!! But, plan your location carefully so that you'll see lots.

We booked a hotel for the Friday night as soon as it was announced. Not sure how much we'll see. We went for the day last June for the jubilee and got very lucky. The atmosphere was amazing xx

@PlaitBilledDuckyPuss thank you for the links will have a read later.

I couldn’t see the appeal of The Queue. I saw the Queen in real life when she officially opened a campus in my town. I took my mum and she was so excited to see the Queen. Its a beautiful memory.

I feel sad so many are using this thread to make snarky comments. I’m not in good health and I’ve never done the London waving in the crowd thing. This feels like my last opportunity to do. And I just want my daughter to experience it too and hopefully have a fun weekend. My other daughter isn’t interested in the monarchy and is probably hoping for a bank holiday not working.